Nearing the end of his senior season, Lee infielder Jaime Laredo is primed for a special opportunity: Leading off a formidable Rebels’ lineup in his first varsity postseason.

Laredo first assumed the mantle of leadoff in the final week of the District 2-6A season, during which Lee needed to win both games against Odessa High to earn the No. 2 playoff seed. Laredo hit .286 in the two games, but immediately showcased a patient and steady approach that characterizes a true leadoff hitter with a .385 on-base percentage.

Laredo will look to continue to set a disciplined tone when the Rebels (13-15) open play in their best-of-three bi-district series against El Paso Socorro (21-9) at 4:30 p.m. today at Alpine’s Kokernot Field. Game 2 is slated for 10 a.m. Saturday and if needed, Game 3 will follow 30 minutes after.

In an effort to re-settle his lineup following the season-ending back injury to senior slugger John Wuthrich, Lee head coach Brian Roper considered his options at the leadoff spot. Entering the final week, junior shortstop and Texas A&M commit Ty Coleman had led off in 15 games. Junior outfielder Omar Ruiz led off in seven and senior outfielder/pitcher Gunnar Blevins in four.

Roper settled on Laredo, whose 11 walks and .423 on-base percentage, at the time, caught his eye. He had hit anywhere from fifth to ninth in the Lee lineup to that point in the season, but Roper decided it was time to give him a shot at the top against OHS in virtually must-win games.

“He has stepped in and done a very nice job (at leadoff),” Roper said. “I’m really proud of Jaime. He’s struggled early on and just kind of kept working and kept working, got an opportunity and he started making the most of his opportunities. He’s had some really big games for us. Really, I’m looking at on-base percentage and he finds his way on base. It’s a good position for him now.”

Laredo said Roper’s daily message to the team resonated his mind when he got the promotion to lead off.

“Coach Roper, he tells us every day to be mentally and physically ready,” Laredo said. “I prepare myself to do that and I just go out there and I try to compete for my team, for my teammates and go out there and have fun.”

Apart from his selective eye and calm demeanor at the plate, Laredo is also willing to put aside his personal ambitions for the greater good of the team. While he may have been more comfortable hitting in the bottom third of the order, he accepted his new assignment without hesitation.

Roper said he applauded Laredo’s enthusiasm, especially as he recognizes that the transition from bottom to top of the order is a difficult one.

“It’s not easy, believe me,” Roper said. “We’ve asked him to do some things, to see some pitches and it’s like you’re putting more on a kid’s shoulder. Jaime, he’s one of those kids who is up for he challenge.”

Laredo said his objective at the plate hasn’t changed.

“I always go up the plate to hunt,” Laredo said. “I’m looking to do something for my team and start something off. As a leadoff, that’s my job is to get on base.”

The senior’s adjustment has helped to stretch the Rebel order in the absence of Wuthrich’s imposing bat. With Laredo leading off and Blevins -- the team’s leader in walks -- now hitting in the two-hole, junior third baseman Adam Becker has been able to remain in his familiar three-hole, while Coleman has slotted into the cleanup spot to provide further run production.

For Roper, Laredo’s can-do and team-first attitude is one of his most valuable traits as a player.

“He says ‘Coach, it doesn’t matter. I’ll do what the team needs’ and that’s what I appreciate about Jaime,” Roper said. “He’s a guy who is going to do whatever is needed for his team to be successful.”

Added Laredo on hitting leadoff: “It feels good, but at the same time, I need to be focused and go out there and be prepared. I know last year’s team, they made a good run in the playoffs and we want to do the same this year.”

Records/seeds: Lee 13-15, No. 2 seed out of District 2-6A; EP Socorro 21-9, No. 3 seed out of District 1-6A

Notes: Socorro won three of its final four games to earn the No. 3 seed. ... Lee head coach Brian Roper said he doesn’t know much about the Bulldogs, but he believes they’ll be a formidable first round test. “They’re solid and there are a lot of things that are similar to some of the teams in our district,” Roper said. ... Roper said the most important thing for the Rebels is to worry about how they play their game. “It still boils down to you taking care of your part of the game,” Roper said. “It’s about not giving people free bases with walks and playing good defense and we’re going to have hold runners and do things like that. You need to make the most of your opportunities when you get runners in scoring positions.” ... Lee will be without Wuthrich for the entire postseason, as he has a fractured vertebra in his back. In 23 games, Wuthrich was hitting .493 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, an on-base percentage of .596 and a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 2:1. On the mound, he went 2-2 with a save and 11 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. ... Overall, Wuthrich’s individual season is generally considered one of the best in program history. ... Lee advanced to the Class 6A Region I final last season, while Socorro missed the playoffs.